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Enjoy this croque madame for breakfast, lunch or even a lazy dinner. Photo / Babiche Martens

Croque Madame

This French sandwich is a cheese lover's dream, a carby masterpiece built with ham, mustard and topped with a fried egg

By
Angela Casley

Saturday Aug. 17, 2019

They're wonderful when enjoyed street-side at a cafe in Paris, but this classic French delight is just as good homemade for breakfast or lunch. Mais oui! The recipe requires a few key good-quality ingredients — you can’t go without Dijon, ham and Gruyère cheese. Don’t be mean with the butter, the juicier the better.

2. Melt the butter in a small pot. Add the flour and cook over a low heat for a couple of minutes. Add the milk in two lots and stir until the sauce thickens. Stir through the mustard and cheese. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

3. Lie four slices of bread on a bench. Spread each with sauce, reserving ½ cup for the top. Place on the ham. Spread Dijon mustard on the top four slices of bread and place on the ham, mustard-side down.

4. Heat some extra butter in a frying pan and toast each croque madame on both sides. Transfer to a baking tray. Smother the remaining sauce on the top of each sandwich. Grill until the sauce is golden.

5. Fry four eggs while they grill. Top each sandwich with a fried egg cooked to your liking and serve.